N. Ram, Board of Trustee, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), and Chairman, Kasturi and Sons Ltd., has said the community agro-biodiversity centre (CABC) at the MSSRF has done a commendable service to society, especially to farming and tribal communities in Wayanad.
He said the CABC imparted scientific knowledge to the communities that helped in conserving biodiversity in the region since its inception in 1997.
After dedicating the newly-constructed building of the trainers’ training centre (TTC) of the CABC to the public on Saturday, Mr. Ram said the centre was a gift of scientist M.S. Swaminathan and his faculty members to the State.
Mr. Ram said traditional and scientific knowledge should be collated for the development of humanity and the betterment of the farm community.
Sustainable development should be attained through conserving biodiversity and the training centre should be utilised for the purpose, he said.
Kerala’s social development model was globally known, but the model developed by the MSSRF over the past 20 years may be studied by the State government for sustainable development, Mr. Ram said.
Financial support
Mr. Ram called upon the government to provide financial support to the institution for its innovative initiatives for society.
Talking about the services offered by the CABC, N. Anilkumar, Director, CABC, said the TTC would provide comprehensive training to trainers for achieving UN sustainable development goals.
Capacity building
The centre would focus on capacity building of officials, elected members of local-self governments, and other key stakeholders on U.N. sustainable development goals such as zero hunger, food security and improved nutrition, and sustainable agriculture, Dr. Anilkumar added.
District panchayat president T. Ushakumari presided over the function.
V. Selvam, executive director, MSSRF welcomed the gathering.
Madhura Swaminathan, chairperson, MSSRF; V.Harris, councillor; and A. Ratnam, former chairman, programme advisory committee, MSSRF; among others, spoke.
V. Balakrishnan, head, CABC, conveyed the vote of thanks.
